Senate OKs bill to restore fair cost to vets' spouses

On a bipartisan 33-0 vote, the State Senate voted Thursday to approve legislation to reverse a 2009-10 budget action that has caused considerable financial and personal hardship for numerous veterans and their spouses living at California's homes for veterans. SB 1440 now moves to the governor for his consideration.

Senate Bill 1440 by Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, reverses an increase to the cost for non-veteran spouses to live at CalVet Veterans Homes that has resulted in non-veteran spouses being required to pay up to 90 percent of their income to live with their husband or wife at a state veterans home.

"Numerous veterans and their spouses have seen their personal finances, their savings and assets wiped out by these changes to the fees charged for living at a veterans home. Couples have left veterans homes and even separated as a result of the steep, unforeseen increase to the cost of living many have experienced," said Wolk, who represents the Veterans Home in Yountville. "SB 1440 will restore fairness and stop penalizing veterans who want to live in veterans homes with their spouses."

The legislation will allow non-veteran spouses to pay the same fees and charges as their veteran spouse to live at one of the state's veterans homes in Yountville, Barstow, Chula Vista, Fresno, Lancaster, Redding, Ventura and West Los Angeles.